Posts Tagged “feature”
Eagle Eye Produce of Idaho Falls, ID, a leading grower, packer, and shipper of potatoes and onions, has announced the start of its new crop shipping season from its facilities in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
Reports from the field point to strong quality, good sizing, and stable supplies across both crops. With harvest underway across Idaho and the Pacific Northwest, and expected to continue through October, the season is off to a strong start.
Joe Ange, Director of Onion Sales, shared his thoughts on this year’s onion crop: “We’re seeing great quality and sizing on our yellow, red, and white onions. The weather has been great for growing onions. It stayed warm enough to keep the crop healthy without any extreme heat. Harvest kicked off a little early in Idaho and Eastern Oregon and will run through September. With more supply and new warehouses shipping this season, we’re in a strong position to meet customer demand.”
Coleman Oswald, Director of Sales at Eagle Eye Produce, commented on this season’s potato crop: “This season has shaped up well. Heat came after row closure, which helped hold moisture in the soil, and we’re seeing strong quality and good sizing so far. We’ve upgraded our packing lines and field technology over the last few years, and those improvements are showing up this season. They’re helping us pack more efficiently and maintain consistent quality as we head into this new crop season. Our customers can count on a steady supply of russet, red, and yellow potatoes to support their year-round programs this year.”
Eagle Eye Produce offers a full range of retail and foodservice pack styles for potatoes and onions, with options for private label programs and support from a nationwide sales and marketing team. With a fully integrated approach that covers everything from Roots to Routes, including growing, packing, and shipping, Eagle Eye stands out as a reliable and innovative partner in the produce industry.
About Eagle Eye Produce
Eagle Eye Produce, based in Idaho’s potato country, is a major grower and shipper of potatoes and much more. The company is one of the largest onion grower shippers in the Pacific Northwest and the leading watermelon supplier in the western United States. It also offers a strong program of mixed
dry vegetables grown in Mexico. Eagle Eye cultivates thousands of acres of fresh produce each year and operates state of the art warehouses across the western United States and Mexico, supported by a national sales and marketing team. With an asset-based transportation division serving customers coast to coast, Eagle Eye Produce is committed to being the Partner of Choice, driven by exceptional customer service and innovative, efficient farming and warehousing practices.
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The 2024-2025 Peruvian blueberry season concluded with over 320,000 tons shipped to destination markets, representing a 40% increase year-on-year, according to industry data. The majority of the exports, approximately 55%, were sent to the United States, as noted by Fluctuante CEO David Sandoval.
Sandoval emphasized the need for market diversification, stating, “We need to diversify the countries to which we deliver this product and, above all, focus on opening new markets.” He also highlighted that the industry continues to favor temperature-resistant cultivars, primarily Ventura and Biloxi, due to their resilience against climatic challenges. “Producers have continued to focus on Ventura and Biloxi, and have not yet clearly switched to other premium or licensed varieties.”
The CEO explained that the continued preference for these varieties is driven by return on investment considerations. “For us to develop Sekoya and other licensed varieties, we require a lot of investment, and that investment ultimately has to be reflected when selling the fruit.” He also noted that in the U.S. market, supermarkets show little interest in specific varieties, as blueberries often arrive mixed in final packages, with consumer preferences centering on the fruit’s crunchiness, visual appeal, and freshness.
Sandoval questioned whether further investment in licensed varieties is justified, given the high costs involved. “We are in a productive and exporting development phase, we are the first, and that is to be applauded, but in any case, if we don’t promote it, if we don’t say it, the consumer won’t notice it,” he said.
He observed that Asian markets, especially China, pay premiums for licensed varieties, whereas in the U.S., price differences are minimal. “In some weeks, the price of Ventura and Biloxi is even higher than that of licensed varieties,” he added, suggesting that the transition to newer licensed cultivars remains slow.
This year promises to continue a trend that has kept shelves well-stocked. Maybe too well stocked. In 2023, the U.S. Apple industry experienced a larger-than-average crop, with 250 million bushels in total at the end of the season. This number increased by 10% in 2024 to a whopping 260 million bushels. Unfortunately, this is not good news for growers.
“My understanding is that they’re expecting perhaps another four million boxes on top of what they had last year, which is probably a little too much for the industry to handle,” says Kevin Brandt, Vice President and COO at Property Variety Management, the company representing brands like Pink Lady and Cosmic Crisp in the U.S.
Good apple growing weather has helped increase volume, but Brandt says the incursion of new actors in the industry has also resulted in more apples hitting the market as the temperature drops. An investment influx led by big players, such as the Canadian Teachers Pension Fund, Goldman Sachs, and Hancock, has purchased several vertically integrated companies that are now growing a number of products—apples, chief among them.
“All of those plantings are now coming into production,” Brandt says. “And those plants are high density and buy access, so that’s gonna cause quite an increase in what we’re seeing.”
California fig shipments are predicted to have big volume and good quality this season.
In a press release, the California Fresh Fig Growers Association (CFFGA) explained that, thanks to an increase in planted acres, this year consumers can expect plenty of fruit to last well into the fall. But this year’s California figs not only come in large quantities, but also in high quality. Karla Stockli, CFFGA’s Chief Executive Officer, said this year’s crop benefited from the mild weather and the absence of extreme heat, resulting in fruit with good size and flavor.
About 10 million pounds of figs are expected to be shipped this season.
This season also comes with some novelties. The CFFGA invited Americans to look out for Emerald, a new fig variety hitting the shelves. The CCO said the green, creamy fruit has a crème brulee-like flavor and should be paired with foods that have “a more fruity or sweeter flavor profile.” Emerald is joining California’s proud list of fig varieties, which includes Mission, Brown Turkey, Sierra, and Tiger.
As for supply, “Mission and Brown Turkey will continue to provide the bulk of the fresh production; Sierra and Tiger should be steady, and Emerald volume will be much higher than last year,” Stockli said.
California fig supplies are said to last through November.
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Veg Fresh Farms of Corona, CA started a modest fall program focused on traditional carving pumpkins about 5 years ago. Today, that program has rapidly expanded into a robust and diversified offering, distinguishing itself with unique heirloom varieties and custom-tailored mix-and-match bins designed to meet evolving consumer demand.
Veg Fresh Farms’ innovative approach includes offering creative, specialized mixes—like the popular Autumn Mix Bin—featuring sought-after heirloom pumpkins such as the Blue Doll and Marina di Chioggia, along with other unique varieties.
“Pumpkins and gourds have become more about fall decorating and not just for Halloween,” says Chris Jacoby, Sales Director at Veg Fresh Farms “more retailers are selling pumpkins earlier, even around late August or early September, to meet this demand.”
“The growth of the pumpkin program extends beyond traditional grocery stores, with non-traditional retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot, as well as foodservice customers. This expansion is fueled by consumers’ willingness to spend a little more on uniquely shaped, colorful, and decorative pumpkins and gourds. The versatility of items like pie pumpkins continues to grow with their expanding use in cooking and other creations” also adds Chris Jacoby.
To support this demand, Veg Fresh Farms has expanded its growing program in both Southern and Northern California.
“Continuing to diversify our offerings is critical to our relationships with our customers,” explains Dino Cancellieri, General Partner. “Our customers rely on vendors like Veg Fresh Farms to provide unique and differentiated items that excite consumers and drive traffic to their stores. Chris Jacoby has been instrumental in spearheading this program, working closely with seed companies and growers to curate the perfect mix for each fall season.”
“We only see upwards potential as this program continues to grow,” adds Dino Cancellieri.
About Veg-Fresh Farms
Veg-Fresh Farms is a third-generation, family-run agribusiness, currently providing fresh produce to national food service chains and national retailers under the Veg-Fresh Farms, Crystal Cove Berry Farms, and Good Life Organic labels.
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Logistics company Crowley has announced a “significant expansion” of ocean shipping services with its first-ever route between the U.S. Northeast and Central America.
Utilizing Crowley’s new, state-of-the-art Avance Class vessels, the five-day transit between the Port of Philadelphia’s Gloucester Marine Terminal and ports in Guatemala and Honduras enables the most timely deliveries of food, apparel, industrial products and consumer goods to and from the Central America Northern Zone, which also includes El Salvador and Nicaragua.
Crowley’s Copán container ship will begin the first voyage on July 3 from Central American to Gloucester City, New Jersey, operated by Gloucester Terminals LLC, a client company of Holt Logistics Corp.
“Customers can count on us to support their growth wherever they operate, including now between Central America and the U.S. Northeast. This best-in-class, non-stop service with our new LNG-powered vessels will deliver the fastest transit times in the market,” said Reinier van Delden, vice president of commercial operations at Crowley Logistics.
“This means less inventory idle time, lower supply chain costs, and longer shelf life for critical products like fresh produce. With significant booking commitments already, we’re excited to bring these vessels to Philadelphia to connect our global customers with access to the regional market using superior, reliable operations provided by Crowley and Gloucester Terminals.”
Powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the best-in-class Avance vessels reflect Crowley’s commitment to the maritime industry’s innovation and environmental efficiency that provide the most effective solutions for customers.
“Marine service is an important pillar of Philadelphia’s economy, and Gloucester Terminals is proud to be a partner with Crowley to accomplish this milestone for U.S-Central America trade,” said Christian Holt, sales representative for Gloucester and Holt.
“This new route creates faster and more efficient pathways connecting Northeast Atlantic business owners to international customers. We are thrilled to partner with Crowley, another generational family-owned business. Together, with over 200 years of dedicated customer service, we focus on creating jobs, driving economic growth, and making a positive impact in the Philadelphia-South Jersey communities.”
The new route between Philadelphia and Central America expands on Crowley’s operations in the Northeast Atlantic, where it has served Puerto Rico, the Eastern Caribbean and the Virgin Islands with a regular container service for more than 70 years.
Green bell pepper supplies are abundant; markets have eased. Red bell pepper prices are slightly lower as California yields start to increase; demand remains strong, according to a press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Green Bells
- Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green Bell Peppers are ample
- California volume is high; quality is very good as multiple coastal regions are in production, including Hollister, Oxnard, and Santa Maria
- Harvesting is steady in the Midwest regions of Michigan and Ohio
- Northeastern production is consistent; all sizes are available
- Central Mexico is shipping limited quantities into South Texas
- Expect low prices this week
Red Bells
- MFC and ESS Red Bell Peppers are available
- California’s coastal production is moderate and expected to increase over the next two weeks due to hot weather; quality is very good
- Supplies are limited out of Central Mexico (crossing into South Texas), but the season will ramp up in mid-September
- Greenhouse yields are snug in Eastern Canada due to past hot weather and disease issues; Western Canada greenhouse stocks are sufficient but not being regularly exported to the U.S.
- Demand for California peppers remains strong
- Expect slightly lower prices next week with a larger drop in mid-September
Freshway Produce Inc. of Miami, FL ships dragon fruit the year and is now increasing it’s production grown in the Sunshine State. Optimism is high this year thanks to favorable weather.
Less rainfall, which can csause fungi problems and other potential issues have not been excessive this year.
Production volumes have also seen a significant boost, particularly from one of the company’s Southern Florida farms. There, Freshway Produce dedicates approximately 44 acres to the cultivation of red and white dragon fruit.
The company has been working with Florida-grown dragon fruit since 2018, and to ensure year-round availability, it also sources from four different countries, including Ecuador and Nicaragua. The firm’s red and white locally-produced varieties are typically available from June through November.
The company reports a consistent growth trajectory in production capacity.
Native to tropical South and Central America, dragon fruit cultivation was first introduced in Florida in the early 2000s. While the Sunshine State’s warm climate provides an ideal growing environment, Florida dragon fruit is traditionally smaller than those imported from countries such as Ecuador.
Freshway notes smaller sizes offer a more practical, on-the-go alternative for snacking, although the market usually demands larger sizes.
C&S Wholesale Grocers LLC and SpartanNash have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which C&S will acquire SpartanNash for a purchase price of $26.90 per share of SpartanNash common stock in cash, representing total consideration of $1.77 billion, including assumed net debt.
The transaction price represents a 52.5% premium over SpartanNash’s closing price on June 20, of $17.64, and a premium of 42% to its 30-day volume-weighted average stock price as of June 20, according to a news release.
The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.
SpartanNash’s previously announced quarterly cash dividend of 22 cents per common share will continue to be paid on June 30, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 13, the release said.
”This is an exciting opportunity for our team members, partners and, notably, our customers. C&S and SpartanNash share many of the same values, including a strong emphasis on customers, teamwork and our communities. Together, we are uniting some of the most advanced capabilities and boldest innovations in the distribution market to better serve communities across the nation,” said C&S CEO Eric Winn.
“At C&S, we have a legacy of braggingly happy customers, and our team members strive every day to take care of our customers’ stores as if they are our own,” Winn added. “The combination of our two companies’ capabilities puts our collective customers’ stores and our own retail stores at the center of the plate, supporting their ability to thrive in a highly dynamic and competitive environment. Our customers need us more than ever, and we are building a sustainable platform for our team members to be able to support them long into the future.”
“We are energized by the opportunities this combination provides for our associates and customers,” said SpartanNash President and CEO Tony Sarsam. “With our organizational values in close alignment, there will be exciting new career opportunities for our people and a continued commitment to a ‘people first’ culture. For our customers, this transaction creates the necessary scale, efficiency and purchasing power needed to enable independent retailers to compete more effectively with larger big-box chains. Neighborhood grocers are essential pillars of our communities that we want to preserve and strengthen. A thriving hometown grocery store supports local farmers, bolsters the local economy and enhances the overall health and well-being of the community.”
Strategic rationale includes, according to the release:
- Complementary food distribution networks to better support independent retailers — Together, the combined company will operate almost 60 complementary distribution centers covering the U.S. and will serve close to 10,000 independent retail locations, with collectively more than 200 corporate-run grocery stores.
- Greater efficiency and scale expected to result in lower prices for grocery shoppers — Being able to operate at a larger scale, supported by the combined innovative capabilities of the two companies, enables a more efficient supply chain as well as an ability to secure the best possible delivered cost of goods and promotional discounts, which are expected to translate to better pricing for community retailers and at the shelf for consumers. Profit margins in the grocery industry are very low — averaging only 1.6% — and customers and consumers deserve the best value for food and household goods. The stability of the combined organization will allow the combined company and its customers to better compete against various extremely large global grocers in the U.S. food-at-home space, a more than $1 trillion annual industry.
- Preserves accessible, affordable nutrition and pharmacy services in local communities — Nearly half of all U.S. counties have at least one pharmacy desert (a 10-mile radius with no retail pharmacy), and an estimated 5.6% of the country’s population lives in a food desert. Providing families with access to fresh food, essential prescription medications and health services is at the core of the combined company’s operations, distributing to community retailers and operating corporate grocery stores and pharmacies.
The transaction is expected to close in late 2025, subject to certain customary closing conditions, including, among other things, SpartanNash shareholder approval and applicable regulatory approvals, according to the release. C&S has obtained financing commitment letters for the transaction. Wells Fargo has provided a debt financing commitment for the transaction.
Solomon Partners is serving as the exclusive financial adviser to C&S. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is serving as legal adviser to C&S and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is serving as legal adviser to C&S in connection with its debt financing, the release said, adding that BofA Securities Inc. is serving as exclusive financial adviser to SpartanNash. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is serving as legal adviser to SpartanNash.
Mexico and the Dominican Republic’s mango supply in the U.S. is set to increase this year if shipments continue as expected.
From April to November, both countries are the U.S.’s main suppliers of the tropical fruit. Last year, by September, the countries sent a total of 89,744,893 mangoes into the United States. This year, the countries have already sent 65,386,990, more than half of the total shipped in 2024, with several months of supply remaining.
A total of 4,578,808 boxes of mangoes from both countries arrived in the U.S. at the beginning of July, an increase of a little over 357,000 from the same period last year.
Most of that number is made up of three main mango varieties: Kent (59%), Tommy Atkins (21%) and Ataulfo/Honey (18%). There is also a limited supply of Mingolo, Keitt, Mallika, Nam Doc Mai, Thai, Manila, Banilejo and Kesar.
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